As we step into December, we’re reflecting with deep gratitude on a season marked by extraordinary collaboration and community care. When SNAP benefits were temporarily suspended this fall, thousands of families across Shawnee County faced immediate and unexpected food insecurity. In response, the United Way of Kaw Valley launched the Oh Snap! partnership, a countywide effort designed to strengthen local food pantries and ensure families didn’t go without.
Thanks to the generosity of anonymous United Way of Kaw Valley donors—who invested $170,000 into this initiative—and the support of the City of Topeka firefighters, whose Fill the Boot campaign contributed directly to Oh Snap! funding, pantries across our community were able to expand their capacity during a moment of intense need. And even as SNAP benefits were restored in November, demand for food assistance has remained high.
At SENT, we were honored to serve as a central food hub supporting five local pantries. With the help of this partnership, SENT went back to operating three days per week while we are short-staffed. During this time, we were able to get back close to our full capacity, more than doubling the number of families we serve. Working together, we helped ensure that fresh, quality food reached every corner of our community.
This season also highlighted the strength of our wider network of food suppliers and donors. Through the combined generosity of Dillon’s and One Can One Kid, Reser’s, Harvesters, Hildebrand Farms Dairy, KC Food Hub, Kansas Black Farmers Association, El Shaddai Ministries Community Church and numerous individual supporters, our shelves stayed stocked, and families had access to a wider variety of nutritious foods. Their contributions helped us diversify where food is sourced from, allowing us to meet the unique needs of our neighbors with dignity and choice.
As we look ahead, we’re excited about what this moment has revealed:
Our hope is that the Oh Snap! collaboration becomes a model for the future—one where pantries regularly combine resources, share distribution systems, and work as one coordinated network to ensure no family faces hunger alone.
Thank you for being part of this work.
Together, we are building a healthier, stronger Southside and Shawnee County.
Thinking about buying a home in 2026? SENT’s Homebuyer Pool Workshop is designed to help first-time buyers and returning buyers understand the full path to affordable homeownership — and learn how to prepare for purchasing a SENT-developed home.
Whether you’re just starting to explore homeownership or you’re ready to take the next step, this workshop gives you the knowledge, tools, and support to move forward with confidence.
Who This Workshop Is For
This workshop is ideal for individuals or families who:
✔ Are interested in purchasing an affordable SENT home
✔ Are working toward financial readiness and want guidance
✔ Need help understanding the homebuying process
✔ Want to join SENT’s Buyer Pool for upcoming housing opportunities
✔ Are committed to improving credit, planning for a down payment, or learning the steps to qualify for a mortgage
Please note: SENT cannot meet urgent housing needs, and joining the workshop does not guarantee the availability or timing of a home. SENT’s Buyer Pool is not a waitlist — selection is based on financing readiness, household size, housing needs, and program requirements.
What You’ll Learn
This workshop covers key topics from SENT’s Homebuyer Handbook, including:
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Understanding SENT’s Homebuyer Program
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Preparing for Homeownership
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Down Payment & Assistance Programs
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The Homebuying Process
How to Join SENT’s Buyer Pool
To enter the Buyer Pool, participants must complete:
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A homebuyer education course through HCCI or Fannie Mae
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The SENT Homebuyer Pool Application
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This workshop
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Get Pre-Approved for a Home Loan
You may start Step 1 & 2 anytime using these links:
Registration Link (sent after application)
Once you complete the Homebuyer Pool Application, we will email you the private workshop registration link.
COMING SOON IN 2026
Introducing SENT’s Wrap-Around Model Campaign
At SENT, we’ve always believed something simple but profound: everything is connected. When families struggle to meet basic needs, the effects don’t stay isolated. They ripple outward — affecting health, school performance, employment, stress levels, and overall stability.
The research is clear:
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Families who spend more than half their income on housing are significantly more likely to face food insecurity, poor health, and unstable employment.
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In Kansas, 14% of residents experience food insecurity, and 12.3% of households face severe housing problems.
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Social conditions like housing, food access, transportation, and neighborhood stability influence up to 40% of a person’s overall health outcomes — more than medical care alone.
That’s why SENT does not focus on one issue at a time.
In 2026, we’re launching a new social media campaign to help our community understand the heart of our work: SENT’s Wrap-Around Model.
Our model brings together every part of SENT — Neighbor Advocacy, the Southside Wellness Clinic, the Southside Filling Station, affordable housing, youth development, school-based programming, workforce training, mental health and SUD support, and more — to address not just one need, but the full picture of what families need to thrive.
Because when housing is stable, health improves.
When food is secure, children learn better.
When stress decreases, recovery becomes possible.
And when all these needs are met together, entire neighborhoods begin to rise.
We’re excited to spend 2026 telling these stories — one program, one partnership, and one transformed life at a time. Stay tuned as we take you deeper into how wrap-around care works and why it matters for the future of Southeast Topeka.
VIDEO SNEAK PEAK
Learn More About SENT Programs
STAY IN THE KNOW!
Join our vibrant community on social media and witness the transformation firsthand! Follow us for inspirational stories, exclusive updates, and a chance to connect.
